Uhh yeah they do. The largest load a rod experiences is tensile load and all metals have some degree of elasticity. That non-turbo rod wasn't Mercedes best feat of engineering. I've only seen the turbo rod fail at the big end but all of the non turbos break high up on the beam. Seen plenty of non turbos with a rod poking through the block and a few with broken top rings. You don't find broken top rings in these engines if they always been driven hard. If somebody babies it long enough it wont pretty when the next guy doesn't.

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90 300TE 4-M
Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim
T04B cover .60 AR
Stage 3 turbine .63 AR
A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR
MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control
3" Exh, AEM W/B O2
Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys,
Vented Rear Discs, .034 Booster.
3.07 diffs 1st Gear Start

90 300CE 104.980
Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression
197° intake cam w/20° advancer
Tuned CIS ECU
4° ignition advance
PCS TCM2000, built 722.6
600W networked suction fan
Sportline sway bars
V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff